How It Works

Home science experiments: how to create a rainbow

by · 22/03/2015

As part of our home science experiment series, we are showing you how to gets hands on with science to make learning more fun.

Read on to find out how to make your very own rainbow with some common household items…

 

Checklist:

  • Glass of water
  • Cardboard
  • Scissors
  • Sellotape

1  Cut the card

Wait for a sunny day. Cut a 2.5cm (1in)-wide slit in the cardboard, slightly longer than the height of your glass.

2  Secure the card

Stand it up with the slit between you and the Sun. Sellotape the bottom to keep it steady.

3  Place your glass

Put your glass of water next to the card so that the card is between the glass and the Sun. The light should stream through, hit the glass and split into a rainbow. Move the glass about a bit until it appears.

RS50917_Lightsplit3-1-hpr

What you’ve learnt:

With this fun experiment you’ll learn about the properties of light, their different wavelengths and the light spectrum.

Make sure you take a photo of the rainbow you’ve created and send it to us on Facebook and Twitter!

Find more fun projects to try at home with the How It Works Book of Science Experiments, available to order online or download onto your digital device.